Me and the Pumpkin Queen (ISBN 0061140228)

sweet & real:
I spotted this @ the bkstore sometime back & ordered it for my 9 1/2 yr old 4th grade daughter to read this fall. She read most of it out loud to me, & we could barely put it down. The end brought tears to my eyes. If you like Beverly Cleary's Ramona bks, &/or Deborah Wiles' Ruby Lavender & Each Little Bird That Sings, you will take to Marlane Kennedy's character, Mildred, & Circleville, regardless of whether or not you are interested in pumpkins. Within the focus on pumpkins, the author interweaves humor, growing up, family relationships, grieving over the death of a parent, & success & failure. We are watching for the 3/2009 release of The Dog Days of Charlotte Hays, & wishing there were more Mildred/Pumpkin Queen out there.

We highly recommend! An enjoyable story!:
Very glad we picked this up. A great choice. I read it after my 8 yr old finished it. I thought it was warm and touching. What a sweet girl. Great detail on growing pumpkins-- very interesting. I had no idea how much work and special attention growing giant pumpkins required. A great first book by Ms. Kennedy-- thank you!

Warm and funny with a giant-pumpkin sized heart!:
This is one of those books that sneaks up on you. It caught me off guard. Based on some positive reviews I'd read and the back cover blurb, I expected it to be cute. I thought I'd kind of like it. I didn't expect to be so swept up in Mildred's quest to grow the perfect giant pumpkin that I was tempted to ignore my 7th period English class today. But I was. Marlane Kennedy captures the voice of a fifth grader who has settled into life with her dad after her mother's death and explores the very real issues that face fifth grade girls - shopping for a first bra, getting ears pierced, and dealing with a bossy aunt. I found hints of Judy Blume in the coming of age parts of this book and big servings of warm humor on just about every page. Add to that one huge issue - growing a HUGE pumpkin, and protecting it from bugs, fungus, drought, and tornadoes - and you have one amazing book. I was enchanted by the story and terribly intrigued by the process of growing a giant pumpkin. I kind of want to try and grow one myself now. Mostly, though, I want to stand up and cheer for Mildred and for Marlane Kennedy. ME AND THE PUMPKIN QUEEN is a little book with a giant-pumpkin sized heart.

Hard Work and Determination Pay Off!:
Who knew a book about pumpkins could be so entertaining and exhilarating. This book touches on everything from single-parent families to a young girl's coming of age and determination to make her deceased mother proud. Mildred's determination, anticipation, and sometimes disappointing attempts at growing the largest pumpkin for the annual festival, grabs and keeps the reader's attention throughout the book. I only wish I could have read this book before I attended the Circleville Pumpkin Festival back in the 1990's. Growing a prize pumpkin such as Mildreds, definitely takes knowledge, patience, and hard work. A very light-hearted and wonderful read. The characters in this book are truly realistic and well portrayed. We can all relate to having a family member, such as Mildred's Aunt Arlene, that can create drama in our lives as well as having a true friend such as Mildred's friend Jacob, that knows what you're thinking without speaking. This story is set in a rural community outside of Columbus in Circleville, Ohio. Every year on the third Wednesday of October, one can visit Circleville and see hundreds of thousands of visitors all on a quest to see the largest pumpkin and eat a variety of foods made with, you guessed it....Pumpkins. A fantastic children's book that can capture a variety of audiences! Well done! Also recommended: Dogku by Andrew Clements. A story writen about a stray dog who finds a loving home. A fantastic picture book written using Haiku poetry. Hence the name, 'Dogku.'

Courtesy of Teens Read Too:
Mildred dreams big dreams in the shape of a pumpkin. This may seem strange to some people, and it especially does to her Aunt Arlene, who's convinced Mildred should start acting and dressing like girls her own age. It's not normal, according to Aunt Arlene, for 11-year-old girls to spend every single summer cultivating a tiny seed and trying to grow it into a giant pumpkin. Even if it is to win the Circleville Pumpkin Show's giant pumpkin contest. But to Mildred, it makes perfect sense for her to try to make her mother's wish come true. The former Pumpkin Show Queen died when Mildred was only six, but Mildred still remembers how much she loved those huge pumpkins, and that she'd mentioned a desire to take home the prize for the largest pumpkin. So, with the help of her veterinarian father and her best friend, Jacob, Mildred once again sets out on her pumpkin growing adventure, with her eye on the prize. Librarians across the country are already selecting this book as a top choice for young students, and I can see why. The narrative voice is strong, and Mildred's control over her own world is enviable. Some challenges on her road to success bring the story home and have the reader rooting for the little girl with the big dreams. Look for this genuinely sweet read on the shelves! Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince